Coming from a (mostly) non-raider shadowknight, long since 60, who typically duo's with a shaman, sometimes with an additional friend or two:
Careful of old threads on this board; P99 has changed a great deal over the years. All or nothing on AC was characteristic of years ago on P1999 when AC was implemented differently than it is now. Nowadays, due to changes over the years, AC has much more consistent returns against non-raid opponents.
If you're grouping mainly with a shaman, gear for AC first, but not totally to the exclusion of health. Torpor heals a fixed value, your shaman won't usually run out of mana, so you can kill just about anything you out-heal. Hence lowering the average damage roll you take (via higher AC) is the most useful thing you can do. That being said, you still have to be able to survive the "unslowed" part of a pull, too, as well as feign fails and such. There's little reason to wear, for example, a Blood Ember bracer when you can trade it for a second Silver Chitin wrist (they're not LORE) and you gain 40 more HP for a measly 1 AC loss. Likewise trade the neck for something with some health on it, the helm for one with nearly similar AC and HP, they're maybe a little harder to find but they're out there. You can of course use the cheaper pieces as filler in the meantime--not like they don't work, just something you can probably do better in the longer term. Shooting for 285-300 worn AC and 3000 unbuffed health as a non-raiding Ogre is very much do-able thanks to the Ogre's inherent statistic advantage, even with a 2H on. With a 1H weapon/shield it should be fairly straightforward. Don't forget as a non-raider you can access Thurgadin pieces via either MQ or Kael Drakkel farming (your trio can do it), and even Skyshrine or Kael armor (depent on faction) via MQ. Some of those pieces are worth looking in to.
The AC-based 1H is a fair idea. Don't sell the 2H; keep both. Mostly you'd only have a shield on during the unslowed part of a tough pull or when clearing through fairly tough things at a fast rate with a charm pet doing most the damage. In that case you'd probably dual-wield shields if you could and the damage you do with your 1H weapon is practically immaterial. You may elect to get the free 1H sword from Velketor--your trio can easily do the lower kobolds and free is nice. When you want to do damage you use the 2H.
Raiding entails different set of gearing considerations both because of raid mob ATK values and because of Complete Heal. There are a few raider players who seem to have forgotten what it's like to play the game normally, without temple veeshan gear or 50 people at their back. As always, read the advice posted and filter it as necessary--keep the good, toss the superfluous, use what you find useful for your own needs.
Danth
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